April 16, 2008

Jarrett Lee Lane

Jarrett Lee Lane was a fun-loving man, full of spirit. He had a caring heart and was a friend to everyone he met, both in his hometown and at Virginia Tech, where he was a senior in civil engineering.

Jarrett was born in Giles County, Va., on March 28, 1985, and was raised in Narrows, Va., by his mother, Tracey Lane. Throughout his life, he excelled both in sports and academics. He attended Narrows High School and maintained a 4.0 grade point average while participating in varsity football, basketball, tennis, and track. He also played in the band and participated in clubs and community organizations. By the end of his senior year, he was the top player on the tennis team and had earned all-district honors in football, basketball, and track. In June 2003, Jarrett was valedictorian of his graduating class at Narrows High School and also a graduate of the Southwest Virginia Governor’s School in Dublin, Va.

Jarrett realized a long-time goal to become a Hokie in fall 2003. While at Virginia Tech, he played intramural sports and became a member of Campus Crusade for Christ. As a student, Jarrett interned for the Site and Infrastructure Development Department in Virginia Tech Facilities for nearly two years. As a senior, he was awarded The Stanley and Frances Cohen Scholarship, a civil engineering scholarship.

Jarrett would have graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2007. Post-graduation plans included pursuing a graduate degree from the University of Florida, where he had been accepted into the Coastal Engineering Graduate Program and granted an assistantship.

While Jarrett took great pride in being a Hokie and enjoyed his experiences at Virginia Tech, he always made time for his family and hometown friends. Many weekends throughout each semester were spent in Narrows, where he visited family, attended First Baptist Church, and played sports with friends.

Jarrett recognized the importance of being a serious student but even more so, the importance of living life to its fullest.